Krivo gallery

MikeK

In response to Mondoslug's earlier post, here's my photo gallery of the various Krivo pickups I use/have used:

The 1st one is the one that clipped onto an oval hole but the clip broke. I used the 2nd one on hundreds of gigs but the pole pieces tested the bounds of my sanity. When I hesrd that Jadon made a new generation without the pole pieces, I jumped. The 3rd one is my back-up. It sounds great but a tad grittier than the 4th one. And the 4th one is the holy grail to me. I've used it on every gig for about a year now. I'm completely obsessed with my tone, and once I find a tone I love, I lock in to it and stay put. I even have the amp settings written down on a post-it attached to my extra set of strings in my case. When I get to the gig, I quickly get everything set to those specs, then slightly tweak it if needed after the 1st song. And then I'm free. I get teased for that from my musical family here from time to time (lovingly, of course) , but I also get lots of compliments on my tone & never have to worry about it at the gig. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Mondoslug

Cool dude...quite the endorsement! The Gold Micro fears no pick! :)

Buco

I use two of them from the 1st gen in a humbucking configuration.

I built the box for it, I can have single coil, serial or parallel humbucker. Then I figured while I'm at it, I'll add tone + volume pots.

Mondoslug

Wow Buco...you are all in!

MikeK

"I was working in the lab late one night..."

Buco

You're not far off, Mike. This was before these newer models, that you posted pics, were being made. I originally got the 1st gen humbucker and liked some things about it but ultimately returned it to Michael. I bought a single coil and eventually bought another one from my bandmate and started brainstorming how to turn them into a humbucker. Long story short while working in the lab late one night, it hit me; I could just flip the damn thing backwards and that gives me the noise cancellation and other benefits of a humbucker.

MikeK

Your inventiveness in "the lab" brings to mind a young Les Paul or even a Danny Gatton. Some of us will do bizarre things on the quest for the perfect tone. I'm lacking in that skill set. In fact, it's a good day around here when I can get my strings changed. But I love what you did there. I forgot to mention how trouble-free these Krivos are. Except for the aforementioned broken oval hole clip in the 1st one, I've only had one issue with any of them and it wasn't the pickup's fault: at a gig on a tiny stage a few years back (most of mine seem to be that way), a bandmate inadvertently stepped on the cord that goes from the krivo to the amp. The putty is strong, but (luckily?) not strong enough to combat the power and weight of a grown man's shoe. The pickup shot off the guitar & landed on the floor next to me. I puttied it back in place but it produced no sound, so I used my trusty back-up to get through the gig. The following Monday I took it to my luthier. I told him what happened and he said "I'll be back in a minute". A few minutes later he appeared from his "lab" with my fully functional krivo. He told me that he just soldered the wire inside the jack back in place & sent me on my way. It was so easy, he wouldn't even let me pay him for it. But I tipped him, since I was so glad to have my krivo back.

Buco

Thanks Mike, that's a nice compliment.

Danny Gatton is a name you only hear from another guitar geek. And we're talking about the person who was/is an inspiration to some of the worlds best guitar players. He's a definition of an unsung hero.

MikeK

Mos def. My dad played in a band with Danny in DC back in the late 50's when Danny was only 14. I've got a few recordings that they made in Danny's basement. He was incredible even at that tender young age. When he came to Atlanta back in the 90s, he invited my dad & me backstage and I got to meet him. He was a monster on stage and a kind, gentle soul in person. But clearly tormented and of course the story ends very tragically. Fame & fortune (even on mid-level) and the pressures that come with them can be too much for anyone, especially the most sensitive among us. But hearing him play (and seeing the joy in him when he was playing) still inspires me every time.

Buco

Mike, that's so amazing that you had such close contact with Danny. What an incredibly nice memory to have.

MikeK

Thanks, brother. Since you're a premier guitar player in the DC area (and self-proclaimed guitar geek), I'm sure you know that Danny was a huge Django fan. Seems like most of the greats were.